Hydromassage tub and air induction system therefor

ABSTRACT

A hydromassage tub with jet head assemblies installed in the corners thereof, has a control panel for adjusting air intake to the various jet head assemblies, and includes an induction air control system which precludes flooding in the event any of the nozzles of the various jet head assemblies should be blocked from discharging.

United States Patent Jacuzzi 5] Apr. 1, 1975 [54] HYDROMASSAGE TUB ANDAIR 3,540,438 11/1970 Jacuzzi 128/66 IN TI SYSTEM THEREFOR 3,736,9246/1973 Jacuzzi et al. 128/66 [75] Inventor: Roy A. Jacuzzi, Moraga,Calif. [73] Assignee: Jacu zzi Research, Inc., Berkeley,

Calif.

[22] Filed: Feb. 19, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 443,213

[52] U.S. Cl. 128/66 [51] Int. Cl A6lh 9/00 [58] Field of Search 128/66;4/180 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,367,325 2/1968OKeefe 4/180 X Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp [57] ABSTRACT Ahydromassage tub with jet head assemblies installed in the cornersthereof, has a control panel for adjusting air intake to the various jethead assemblies, and includes an induction air control system whichprecludes flooding in the event any of the nozzles of the various jethead assemblies should be blocked from discharging.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED APR 1 I95 SHEET 1 BF 2 FIG. .1.

LIB

HYDROMASSAGEJTUB AND AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM THEREFOR My invention relatesto hydromassage equipment and more particularly to a hydromessage tuband air induction system therefor.

Hydromessage equipment functions primarily by ereating a jet stream withnumerous air bubbles entrained therein, such bubbles exploding uponimpact of the jet stream against the body. to produce a gentle massageaction, along with the impact of the water itself against the body.

Air is usually entrained in the jet stream through a pipe or tube whichis exposed at one point to atmosphere, and at another point to flow ofwater through a nozzle to induct air into the jet stream.

In the course of using such equipment, if one should accidently ordeliberately impede or block discharge of the jet stream at the nozzle,the water can back up into the air intake pipe or tube and dischargetherefrom to atmosphere, and should such pipe or tube terminate at somepoint outside of a tub, flooding can occur.

Among the objects of my invention are:

i, To provide a novel and improved hydromassage tube and air inductionsystem therefor;

2. To provide a novel and improved hydromassagc tub in which thecapability of flooding upon blocking of discharge, is precluded;

3. To provide a novel and improved hydromassage tube and included airinductions system which is relatively quiet in operation.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment of the same as applied to a tubhaving special features, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings where;

FIG. I is a plan view of my improved hydromassage tub with my improvedair induction system incorporated therein;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view depicting the general layout of the water andair systems associated with the tub of FIG 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in section through a conventional type jet headassembly;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the air induction control means of the presentinventipn;

FIG. 5 is a view in section, taken in the plane 55 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a view in section taken in the plane 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention, it involves a tubI of substantially rectangular shape, having a jet head assembly 3installed in each corner thereof, the tub including side walls 5, 7preferably of slightly greater length than the end walls 9. II. Aperipheral apron l3 surrounds the tub walls in spaced relationshipthereto to create a peripheral chamber, which not only houses the jethead assemblies, but also a pump 17 in one corner 18 and all pipingassociated with the system. Filling the tub may be from a faucetinstalled above in an adjacent room wall and emptying may beaccomplished through a controllable drain in the floor of the tub,neither the faucet nor the drain being involved in the presentinvention.

Each jet head assembly may be of conventional design, such for example,as illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein a housing 19 of generallyfrusto-conical form having an end wall 21 at one end and amountingflange 23 at its other end, the end wall including a hollowhemispherical central portion 25 flow connecting with an axial extension27 for connection to a source of water, and a passageway 29 atsubstantially right angles thereto for connection to a source of air.

A spherical component 31. swivel mounted in the hemi-spherical centralportion of the end wall, has an integral axial extension 33 which,together with the spherical component, has an axial passageway 35therethrough which is threaded for adjustable installation of a nozzle37 which in turn, is sealed adjacent its inner end to the hemi-sphericalportion by an O-ring 39, the longitudinal passageway flow connectingwith the water intake extension 27 via an aligned opening 41 in thehemi-spherical central portion.

At a location in advance of the O-ring, the nozzle is provided with oneor more radial openings 43 in its wall, and provision is made for flowcoupling the air intake passageway 29 to the interior of the nozzle byway of these openings. Thus flow of water at a rapid rate through thenozzle will induce flow of air into the water stream to mix therewithand emerge from the nozzle as an air charged jet stream.

All four corner jet heat assemblies are supplied in parallel with waterfrom the pump, the water being returned to the pump via a return opening47 in the proximate comer of the tub, to which opening, the suction lineof the pump is coupled.

Air control to the jet head assemblies is provided from a substantiallyhorizontal but preferably slightly sloping panel 49 installed preferablyin that corner of the tub, which houses the pump, and above theproximate jet heat assembly. Two control knobs 51, 53 are installed inthis panel, one in control of the air to the jet head assemblies at oneend of the tub, and the other in control of air to the other two jetheat assemblies at the opposite end, An appropriate scale or indicia 55on the panel in association with tlhe control knobs, will enableintelligent control of the air supply to the jet head assemblies.

These two control knobs are components of an air control unit comprisinga housing 57 formed of side walls, closed at one end by a floor 59 andat its other end by an end wall 60 upon which the panel 49 rests and isretained by appropriate fastening means.

Installed in and extending through the floor of the air control unit,are a pair of air tubes 61, 63, a portion of each extending outside thehousing for coupling to an air line 67, 69 respectively, from which tosupply air to two of the jet head assemblies and a portion of eachextending within the housing.

The portion of each air tube within the housing has an opening 71adjacent its edlge. Telescoping this end of each air tube is a rotatablecap 73 having a matching opening, which by rotation of the cap as avalve, can he made to move into and out of registry with the associatedopening in the tube, and to varying degrees. Each tube and associatedcap thus constitutes a valve assembly for determining permissible airintake.

Rotational adjustment of each such cap valve is remotely controlled fromone of the knobs through a coupling rod 75 connecting the knob to theassociated cap, whereby rotational adjustments of the knob will effectcorresponding rotational adjustments of the valve cap or air intakevalve.

The housing is exposed to atmosphere by way of an air intake nozzle 79flow connecting with a side wall of the housing.

At its intake end, this air intake nozzle is of slightly increasedinternal diameter to provide a chamber 81 in which to house a lightweight plastic ball 83 of the pingpong type, for limited movement withrespect to a soft rubber lip valve seat 85 installed at the extreme endof the nozzle and with respect to which, the ball will act as a valve.The shoulder 87 formed within the nozzle by the increased internaldiameter of this section and which limits the inward movement of theball valve, is

. notched 0r eccentrically formed to permit flow of air by the ballvalve, when the ball is resting against the shoulder. Thus air may betaken into the system during normal operation thereof.

However, in the event, one or more of the jet nozzles should be blocked,as by an occupant of the tub placing his hand across the nozzle, thewater, which would normally discharge from the nozzle, is forced to backup into the air tube and, in the absence of the ball valve, wouldnormally discharge through the air nozzle. However, with the ball valveinstalled, the water will carry the ball up against the soft rubber lipvalve seat and thus seal the air intake opening of the air nozzle andthus preclude discharge of water therefrom.

The air intake nozzle being common to both air aupply systems, the oneball valve will serve to protect both systems against possible floodingof the surroundings, should any of the jet nozzles associated witheither of the systems be blocked.

From the foregoing description of my invention in its preferred form, itwill be apparent that the same fulfills all the objects of my inventionand while I have illustrated and described the same in considerabledetail, it will be apparent that the same is subject to alteration andmodification without departing from the underlying principles involved,and l accordingly do not desire to be limited in my protection to thespecific details illustrated and described, except as may benecessitated by the prior art.

l claim:

I. A hydromassage system comprising a jet head assembly including a jetnozzle having means for connection to a source of water under pressure,means for introducing air into said nozzle in response to flow of watertherethrough, said means for introducing air including an air passagewayexposed at one point to atmosphere and at another point to such flow ofwater, and means permitting entrance of air into said air passageway andflow therethrough to such flow of water through said nozzle, and adaptedto block flow of water through said air passageway in the reversedirection in the event discharge of water through said nozzle beblocked.

2. A hydromassage system in accordance with claim 1, characterized bymeans in said air passageway, normally only partially closing the sameto permit flow of air therethrough from atmosphere toward said nozzle,but responsive to flow of water in the reverse direction, for blockingsaid passage to How of water therethrough in said reverse direction.

3. A hydromassage system in accordance with claim 2, characterized bysaid means for permitting flow in the one direction and blocking flow ofwater in the reverse direction, including a ball valve in said airpassageway, a shoulder normally supporting said ball valve and providinga by-pass for air flow toward said nozzle, and a valve seat in saidpassageway to the other side of said ball valve and against which saidball valve will seat in response to flow of water in the reversedirection.

4. A hydromassage system in accordance with claim 2, characterized by anadjustable air intake valve assembly in said air passageway intermediatesaid nozzle and said means for permitting flow of air in the onedirection and blocking flow of water in the reverse direction.

5. A hydromassage system in accordance with claim 1, characterized bysaid air passageway including a pair of branch passageways terminatingin a section common to both branches, with said means for permittingentrance of air in the one direction and blocking flow of water in thereverse direction being located in said common section to protect bothbranch passageways, and an adjustable air intake valve in each of saidbranch passageways.

6. A hydromassage control unit for a system for independentlycontrolling air flow to different jet head assemblies in such system,comprising a housing having side walls, a floor at one end and an endwall at the other end, a pair of air tubes extending through said floorwith a portion of each air tube extending outside the housing forcoupling to an air line to a jet head assembly, and a portion extendinginto said housing and terminating in an adjustable air intake valveassembly, an air intake nozzle mounted at one end in a wall of saidhousing with its other end exposed to atmosphere, and means forcontrolling each of said air intake valves independently of.the otherfrom outside of said housing.

7. A hydromassage control unit in accordance with claim 6, characterizedby said end wall including a panel, and a pair of control knobs, eachmechanically coupled to a different one of said adjustable air intakevalve assemblies for independent control of each.

1. A hydromassage system comprising a jet head assembly including a jetnozzle having means for connection to a source of water under pressure,means for introducing air into said nozzle in response to flow of watertherethrough, said means for introducing air including an air passagewayexposed at one point to atmosphere and at another point to such flow ofwater, and means permitting entrance of air into said air passageway andflow therethrough to such flow of water through said nozzle, and adaptedto block flow of water through said air passageway in the reversedirection in the event discharge of water through said nozzle beblocked.
 2. A hydromassage system in accordance with claim 1,characterized by means in said air passageway, normally only partiallyclosing the same to permit flow of air therethrough from atmospheretoward said nozzle, but responsive to flow of water in the reversedirection, for blocking said passage to flow of water therethrough insaid reverse direction.
 3. A hydromassage system in accordance withclaim 2, characterized by said means for permitting flow in the onedirection and blocking flow of water in the reverse direction, includinga ball valve in said air passageway, a shoulder normally supporting saidball valve and providing a by-pass for air flow toward said nozzle, anda valve seat in said passageway to the other side of said ball valve andagainst which said ball valve will seat in response to flow of water inthe reverse direction.
 4. A hydromassage system in accordance with claim2, characterized by an adjustable air intake valve assembly in said airpassageway intermediate said nozzle and said means for permitting flowof air in the one direction and blocking flow of water in the reversedirection.
 5. A hydromassage system in accordance with claim 1,characterized by said air passageway including a pair of branchpassageways terminating in a section common to both branches, with saidmeans for permitting entrance of air in the one direction and blockingflow of water in the reverse direction being located in said commonsection to protect both branch passageways, and an adjustable air intakevalve in each of said branch passageways.
 6. A hydromassage control unitfor a system for independently controlling air flow to different jethead assemblies in such system, comprising a housing having side walls,a floor at one end and an end wall at the other end, a pair of air tubesextending through said floor with a portion of each air tube extendingoutside the housing for coupling to an air line to a jet head assembly,and a portion extending into said housing and terminating in anadjustable air intake valve assembly, an air intake nozzle mounted atone end in a wall of said housing with its other end exposed toatmosphere, and means for controlling each of said air intake valvesindependently of the other from outside of said housing.
 7. Ahydromassage control unit in accordance with claim 6, characterized bysaid end wall including a panel, and a pair of control knobs, eachmechanically coupled to a different one of said adjustable air intakevalve assemblies for independent control of each.